Foldable chair or the like



W. HEERHNG.

FOLDABLE CHAN} OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC, 24. 1921.

Patented July 4, 1922,.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

27; ym'mj ATTORNEY w. HEERLING.

FOLDABLE CHAIR. OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24. 1921.

1 1,779, Patentd July 4, 19221.,

A SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNHTED stares WILIAM HEERLING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDABLE CHAIR OR THE LIKE.

Application filed December 24, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILIAM HnnimrNc, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, borough of the Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Chairs or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to convertible articles, of furniture, such. as chairs, stools, tables, or the like and has particular reference to devices of this general nature adapted for easy packing into small space for storage or transportation purposes and at the same timeto comprise. a construction involving the least amount of weight in proportion to the degree of strength inherent in the articles.

Among the objects of'the invention therefore is to provide a foldable device comprising a collapsible base, a collapsible body or head, and a jointed shank or post.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of the nature set forth in which the center post is made in several sections or with one or more joints between its ends, adapting it for extension in the use of the device as a table or for the device to be used with a less number of sections as a stool or chair.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a foldable article of furniture the top of which may be employed as a stool seat, or when extended to different positions may be employed as a table top of either rectangular or other form according to'the desire of the user.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which. like reference characters designatethe same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the device arranged for use as a stool or chair.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section; on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and constituting a plan view of the base.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of what would correspond to the upper left hand corner of Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July d, 1922.

Serial No. 524,657.

1 but with the top or seat portion extended as in Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the joints of the head portion.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device as a table, full lines indicating the rectangular form of the top and the dash lines indicating the full extended or hexagonal form of the top.

Fig. 6 is aperspective diagram showing the use ofthe' device as a table with the top ex. tended as-last described above andalso indicating the shank having a plurality of joints with an intermediate section between the base and the head portions.

Fig. 7 is a detail view indicating the collapsed form of the base portion of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings 10 indicates the base end of the post, made preferably as a straight cylindrical piece of tubing,.with an open upper end forming a socket 11 and having secured to its lower end a spider or collar 12 having a series of knuckle extensions or lugs 13. This collar is fitted preferably upon a reduced end portion 14, the reduced portion forming a shoulder 15 to insure the most effective cooperation between the base and the spider.

Fixed to the section 10 at any desired point between its ends is a collar 16. Asa suitable means for attaching this collar there is shown a pin 17.

Located and slidable' between the spider 12 and the collar 16 is a collar 18 which will be referred to hereinafter as a runner. This element is similar to the spider 12, having knuckle lugs 13 thereon, but the internal diameter of the runner is larger than that of the spider so-as to insure its free sliding movement along the post.

For each pair of knuckle lugs 13 of the spider and pivoted'between the same is a foot member 19, these members being shown as six in number and radiating outward from the spider at equal angular intervals. These foot members through the pivots at the knuckles are adapted to be extended in close parallel relation as shown in Fig. 7 or to be spread out in a position approximating a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis of the post. It is preferred however that the post be supported above the plane of the floor or ground upon which the article is supported. Among the reasons for this fact may be noted: The post does not come in support of the article as might be had if all portions of the feet were to lie in a single plane.

Fixed in any suitable manner to each foot 19 at or spaced from its free outer end is a bearing lug 20, and pivotally connected thereto is a brace 21 whose upper end is pivoted between a pair of lugs 13 on the runner 18. These braces 21 pertaining to the several feet 19 constitute the main supports for the chair or table, while the feet serve more as tie rods preventing the spread of the braces. Since the collar 16 prevents the runner from moving upward beyond the position of Fig. 1, and the feet being tied to the spider 12 hold the braces from spreading at their lower ends, the base is thus rendered very strong and stiff in practice, but isfree to fold lengthwise as shown in Fig. 7 due to the free pivotal movement of the several points indicated.

The head structure is mounted upon a head post 22, the general nature or construction of this part of the device being similar to the base above described. 23 is a stop collar fixed as by means of a pin 24 to the post 22 and against which a runner 25 is adapted to bear. A spider 26 is fitted rigidly against a shoulder 27 at the upper end of the post. The runner 25 and spreader 26 are formed with pairs of pivot lugs 28 the same as the corresponding members of the base. 7

Pivoted to the spider lugs are a series of jointed ribs 29 the same being adapted to lie in a plane perpendicular to the post 22 or to be extended when folded parallel thereto. Each rib may comprise any desired number of joints, but shown as two in number and having inner and outer sections 29 and 29" pivoted together at 30. The jointed ends of these sections are so arranged as to prevent the outer section 29 from swinging downward below the aforesaid plane perpendicular to the post. To this end I show a lug or stop 31 on the outer end of the section 29 adapted to be received in a notch 32 and against which the section 29 has bearing. Also to prevent the outersections 29 to be blown by the wind upward inadvertently I provide holding means comprising a lug 32 adapted to snap into a hole 33 in the section 29 This connection is only semi-positive, the sections being foldable by the lifting upward on the outer ends of the outer sections while the top portion of the device is being folded.

The resiliency of the flat joint portions of the ribs permits the lug 32 to snap into the hole 33 and to be drawn therefrom when the ribs are being folded.

At any convenient point along the inner section 29* but not far from the joint, there is a bearing lug 34 to which is pivoted a brace 35 whose lower or inner end is pivoted between a pair of lugs 28 on the runner 25. V

The jointed ribs 29 provide a support for any suitable top 3.6, shown herein as of flexible fabric of a size and form commensurate with the area included within the extreme ends of the arms when extended as shown by dash lines in Fig. 5. Any of the outer rib sections 29 may be lifted and folded inward upon themain portion of the top 36, and if any two opposite sections be so folded as in full lines in Fig. 5 an oblong rectangular table is produced. For the purpose of using the device as a stool or chair the outer sections of the ribs are all folded inward upon the central or main. portion of the top 36 as shown in Fig. 1. The structure so folded is adapted to be used directly as a seat, but if desired a supplementary pillow or cushion (not shown) may be employed and which may be wrapped around the folded device for carrying or packing purposes.

For use of the device as a table the center post is provided with one or more auxiliary sections as shown at 37. Each upper section of the post is provided with a'reduced lower end 38 which is swiveled in the open upper end or socket of the next lower section so that the parts are readily separated when desired and also whereby the seat or table top portion is adapted to rotate freely around the vertical axis of the base.

The device is not only simple and strong in construction but is easily collapsed and packed softhat for picnic parties for example several of these devices may be employed, one for a table and the others as stools. Or for card parties or the playing of other games the device arranged as a table as in Figs. 5 and 6 is most convenient and practical.

I claim:

1. An article of furniture comprising a center post, a head therefor including a spider fixed to the upper end ofthe post, a plurality of ribs pivoted to the spider and radiating therefrom outward in a plane perpendicular to the post in operative position, each of said ribs comprising a plurality of sections articulated together around a horizontal pivot, one section of each rib being foldable upward and inward upon the other for use of the device as a chair, the jointed portions of each rib having in-' terlocking connections on opposite sides of the pivot, one of said connections being posimovement of the foldable section to a hori- 1.0

zontal plane while the snap connection serves to prevent the accidental lifting of the outermost section, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature.

l/VILIAM HEERLING. 

